Road building machine



@et 20, 193i. H. R. MILLER ROAD BUILDING MACHINE Filed June 14, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet l NMI Oct. 20, 1931 H. R. MILLER ROAD BUILDING MACHINE Filed June 14, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 www? Oct. 20, 1931 H. R. MILLER ROAD BUILDING MACHINE Filed June 14, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Oct. 2%, '1931 HANS- a. MILLER, lor annees ram-is, MrNNEsoTA'- y ROAD' BUILnIimMA-cnivn Appnceion mea magia, 1927s. 'serial Naasasss. y,

Thisinvention relatesto. road building, machinery and lespecially to t machinery? for levelling gra;des,.illingcuts and in generall preparing and levelling the lroad bed. l i

At .the present time iin road 'construction it istthe practiceto-digfor scoop up` the soil and dirt with steam or power shovels or clef vator gradersY and load the ,same into 'trucks or dump wagons :which transport the A loaded material and dumpjthelsame intocutsorlow portions ofthe road bed. After the inaterialr is. dumped it must be distributed,.requiring considerable manuallaborand. the use of bull-V Ydozers whereV soft spots -have tor be filled'. Such procedure requiresthe outlay of alarge amount of machinery and equipment vaswell as the Vemployment of vmuchlabor andthe maintenance expense-of .several m'OtOrs'Or propelling and operating :the several -machines., i i 'It is-an objectof my inventiontoprcvidea single piece of machinery whichV will dothe work of: the several machines above referred to, all working parts of Vwhich maybev driven byY asingle motor and controlled'by; onefvorA twomen. g Y y l ,A Afurther object ,isgt'o provide an eliicient roadgbuilding machine Awhich will plow and remove dirtj or otherv material, which ,will collect theplowed materialfandfpile the same in a large hopper and which Vwill transport andydistributethe colle,ctedmaterialat aldesired Vrate of speed and in a desired' quanJ tity'fromthe front. end' ofthe machine, thereby permittingmaterial to'be dumped in soft spotsfwhere thesupportingwheels' or treads forthe machine would sink.

Another object is to providea self-propelling road building machine,which will'travel over the ground,iremoving soil at one [side ofthe machine and collecting soil vas it travels and Whichrwill deliverthe collected material end ofthe machine.` A vy v These. and otherobjects'andfadvantages of when `desired'trom theA opposite slide,v and front y the invent-ion will be apparent from thel olv lowing description made in connectionA with the accompanying' drawings `'in which" like reference characters refer to similarfparts tlironghoi-itthe. several .vlews andan which,l

; the machine torfheavyroad work;v

' piling conveyor ot'the tractor motor:

Fig a `plan view of anemb'odiment Fig, 2 is a' vertical section taken longitudi. n'ally 'through the machine, on 'the line ofV AFig. l, illustrating the 'variable' speed 55 dumping mechanismand the collecting f'Or Fig. 3 is a cross sectiontalenfon thefjline y* 3-v-3of Fig. l, illustrating` anequalizing mechanism for preventing torsional'strainzon :6c y Y the body and frame ofthe deviceduet even ground surfaces,

" Y Fig. 4 is a cross section taken' ionitheijlnel l1-4i of Fig. 1, illustrating'th'e elevatingfconveyor andthe means fforvregulatingthe depth of the 'plowlandreceiving end oi' 'sa-ideen` veyor; s' i" Fig. z5 is a'det'ail view. illustratingthestructure and rconnection oftheextension' driving shaft comiected with the drivingfshaft 70 v ofja standard tractoryand A *Fig`sv.r 6,:7 and 8 are front elevation, side ele v vation andtop'pi'an views'jrespectively ofjone. oflthefconveying elements of -my collecting orpilingconveyor. 1

The embodiment ofthe invention `illus` trated 'in the drawings is mounted upon' a tractor having "apair Vofftracks nof thelendle'ss l belt or commercially-knowncaterpillar type, the axlesandfframe'members oitheftractor 80 channels'll and I5 securedtot'hefunder'sides of said'elongatedframe,members? and yield'- 95 inglv connected'y at'their ends -with Y the front trucks ofthe driving ftracks-Tby'means of; Y' suitable equali'zing mechanismlto be laterjlf *decribedj Thef tractor motorl M: is' suitably. j

supportedffromthe'frame membersgandl'() 310 and as shown is positioned at the left side of the frame having its power shaftzfl suitably connected to a bevel pinion 17 *which meshes with a beveled gear 18 xed to a driving shaft 19, which extends transversely of the frame.` Driving shaft 19` is connectible by separate clutch mechanisms 2O 2:1,V for independently "or co-operatively rug the driving tracks T, shafts 22 and 23outiwardly extending from clutch mechanisms 20 and 21 in alinement with driving shaft 19 and carrying driving pinions 24 at their outer ends in mesh Vwith the driving sprockets or gears 13 for operating tracks T. VAs illustrated, theV pinion 24 for driving the right handtraek- T Y is connected with Aclutch mechanism 21 by rigidlyfsecured to one of the im means of the extension shaft 23, saidextension.' shaft having al'tapered'rinner end 23a fers of as a nut clutch 21`by suitable means,

Vthreadedly engaging the extremityjof. the

tapered end, shaft 23 being journaledjin a bearing 235. y ,A y The outerfendv vof shaft, 23 is` keyed, or splinedat its outer end vto al short sleeve or socket 25, to which a tapered `shank 24a carriedby tll'gepinion 24 is rigidly secured.

"The frit trucks forthe *driving tracks ini ldicatedas an Ventirety by the letters F are arms 28,v said chains30 passing over suitable sheaves Vor pulleys 3 1 looselymounted o n the r lower` corners of channels 15. it will be obvious that if one of the tracks T passes through a low spot on thesurface of theground, the right arm 28 will swing` downwardly permitting the left e'qualizing arm 28 toswing upwardly a corresponding distance and thereby preventing twisting of the `frame and supporting channels 15.

.At the left handside of my frame, and at the rear thereof, I vadjustably support a vheavy plow P, .as shown, of the non-rotative l dise type, plow P being mounted at the outer ends of plow arms 32, said plow arms being pivotedat their innerV ends toga suitable shaft 33, which shaft extends longitudinally ofthe .frame and which falso acts as-adriying shaft for an elevatingconveyor belt't'o bey later described. Plow arms32 are connected at their .outer ends by a plow beam 34 and said beam V. is adjustably v.supported jf'rornnaY winding 'i shaft 35 by means of flexible members, such as chains`36 which may be wound upon shaft 35, the winding of said shaft being controlled Yby a worm wheel 37.

' An elevating conveyor, of the endlessbelt type is mounted with its delivery end ad] ustably positioned adjacent plow P in position to receive therefrom, said conveyor extending transversely lof the frame of" my niachine and comprising an endless belt 38 trained overma relatively large roll 39 at its inner end, said roll being fixed to shaft 33 and trained over a smaller roll 40 at its outer end. A suitable rectangular conveyor frame 41 is provided which pivots on shaft and which loosely carries at its outer end the smaller conveyor'roll 40. A plurality of spaced'idler rolls 42 are also loosely carried by theupper edges of frame 41over which `'the upper leaf of cbnveyor b elt 38 is trained;

The free orou'ter end of frame A41 is adjustably supported `by means of a pair of flexible members, such as the-"chains'43, the upper ends of said chains being fixed to a horizontal winding `shaft V44, said winding shaft,

as! shown, being telescoped over the winding shaft 35 for supporting fthev plow beam and i being controlled by means of ars'uitable worm wheel 4 5` The-elevating conveyor above described', ias shown,l is disposed transverselyVV at therear of the machine, delivering tothe right hand sideof the machine and to thev interior of `a 'so-.called piling conveyor des-v ignated as an entirety by the letter C.

Piling conveyor C extends longitudinallyof the machine at the vright side thereof and is trained overv sprockets mounted on three shafts which are Varranged triangularly', the rear shaft numbered 46, being suitably supported from bracketsv 47'secured'to themachine frame and carrying sprockets 48 at either end thereof. The forward end of endless conveyor C, lis'ltraine'd over .drivingV sprockets 49 fixed to the ends ofa driving shaft'` 50, said drivingvshaft being disposed considerably-'forwardof shaft 4G and at a considerably` greater Vheight than shaft 46; A third shaft 51 over which conveyor() is trained is an idler shaft supported ,from

suitable brackets 52 secured to themachine frameand disposed in, substantial horizontal alinement with therear shaft 46 and considerably forward of said rear shaft. y Shaft 51 carries a i pair of vidler sprockets 53 at either end thereof. As shown, my piling conveyor comprisesa pair of spaced vsprocket chains 54 each trained about the appropriate three sprockets and connected at intervals by swingableconveying elements, designated -as entireties by the numerals 55, said conveying elements-being in the form of 'slats V55a as shown in Figs. 6,7 and 8having turned extremitiesy 551) of rectangularshape,said y extremities .beingl pivotally secured to links ofthe chains `54V at their upperand forward corners. Slats 55a, arereinforced at their prise'a pair of-oppositelyihingedfsections57V `-'rear yssides t-by4 suitable f elements,- fsuch as 'the angle bars '5G-extending-longitudinally therefof. "Tehelower forward corners of the rectangular turned ends 55'?) larepressed inwardly'forming'stoplu'gs 550 which are adapted to abutagainst the'chains 54 to limit upward swinging Vfrnovement `of 'theA conveyor feles meits duri-ng their travel in the triangular AV 'horizontal `apron underlies the-'lower horizontal 'leaf .of conveyor C, andf'maay comprovided with suitable means. such as lthe latch 58 forfseciuingsaid,sectionsin hori 'zont'al position :andvhaving anupwardlyinclined forward vportion 59V extending sub* stantia-lly parallel 'with the upwardly Vinf,

clined run of conveyor C.- "Saidapron is spaced a sufficient distancebelovv'theunder .side of .conveyor C 'to permit the-conveying elements 55 to scrapethe'upper surface theref of, moving rmaterial. deposited on said apro-n by the transverse elevating conveyor 38" and delivering said material toa so-called horlv fzonta'lfdum-pingconveyor D. Dumping'conveyor D'eXtends longitudinally fof the I'inachine frame on the right .handsidefthereof `and, as shown, comprises' an endless :belt 60 itralinedvoverfa -rearconveyor roll r61 and Yl -rela'tively -large vforward conveyor rollifGQ, said fc'onveyor ro'llsf-"b'eingl journaled 'in'zde- Y .Y ,-jpEendi-ng brackets aiixedtof the ,underside of 'thef-niachine frame. 'The upper. runtof lendflessbelt 160 enga:ges5ajplurality of'v horizonitallygal'ine'd *transverse `supporting rollers 63 also `jfournaled insuitable: .depending "brackets. .Ll'large hopper'fis forinfedaboutthe lsi-des" of conveyor "D supported von a suitable "liframework"65', which .mayfb'e constructed of I'anglle' bars,.as s'howninFigs. l, Qand y The 'forward'end of hopper fll is provided lwith l. fa swingable "end gate '66,5lwhichmay be hinged at its upper end to the forwardl'piece I-o'fthe--hop-pe'r frame 165, 'and Ywhich may be f Asshown7 a short c'ountershaftf' .is jour-f rn'aled above fthe vrear rend vr*of the'l motor .driving shaft V'16 (see Fig. 1),'saidi countershaft. being connected to drivingfshaft Vr16 by suitv .ablemeansjsuch-as by'thengear` -67aifin imesh Y #so mounted for lhorizontal sliding'movenrent on "the-frame 65 for variable-`positions relative to ltheV delivery end of piling conveyorC. .v Elevating conveyor 1385 piling- Conveyor f "and dumping conveyor D arei all driven Yfrom the lpower ta'keoffof Pthe tractor motor M.

'with a (pinion''adjacent= and forwardY =of A:the

Ybevel-driving pinion 17. Gountershaft 67 car- 'ries a slidable-driving pinion-68 splined :to the rea-r en'dthereof, saiddriving'pinion .be- 1in-gA Controlled':byY a flever' y69 to mesh with a relatively @large fgear 70,V4 which is; fixed a'second` countershaft 7l. The elevatingeonv50 :at the :for-wand and upper A endj .of piliijig fportedffromtheleft side lof thehopperframe fina'- beveled-pinion 74a which lis meshed 4with the rbeveled pinion 50awof the drivingfshaft conveyor The forwardpendvfof counter- A755 av-hi-chfas shown, -issupported onfonefof the transverse channels' of themac'hine frame 'and the ydriven'y element-of said fclutoh mecha nism is connected'with a'vari-able speedtrans- Y :missionfmechanism E76y mounted sforwarctlyv f thereof. .The driven element oftransmission mechanism 76 is connected by fa flexible l'shaft' V77 to-a small-[driving pinion-.78 mounted in a Asuitable bracket'f'z at the forward endandine- -dialiportion ofthe machine. lfDriving pinion f8fis infmesh :withf ELL-beveled Vidrivingggear f8() fixed yto shaft-:Sito:which-the forward ander? vlavr'fger .conveyor roll 62 i attached for .driving #dumping Conveyorr lD. Transmission 'fin'ecllaanism.v 'T6 for drivably 'connecting' ptlie Y fdumpingroller is provided with a f plurality` 'of forward speedfgears andy a reversey speed1 gear` thereby' enabling/.the ldumping conveyor toibe -driven*'at'slow orhigha-speedffor dis- -Itributing material. piled Athereon for tof-be 'reversedffor"piling up material at thegrear thereof. Y y I y *n Operation?. p

, "rl-he operation -of my roadvbuildingvmafchineyinayibe brieiiydescribed as follows The machine Vispropelled :by its .driving-z5 tracks T overithe surface desiredlto begraded *and plowP is set at .the proper positionto l'penetrate ther groundfand throw material upon vthev lower lend of 'elevating 'conveyor :38. :Ele-

vating conveyor 38 moves the material-transfer versely ofthe machine,:deliveringthe same above the lower and horizontal leafaof Athe piling `conveyor C. The "operation-ofelevatr ingl conveyor '38- as .well as the piling conveyor' vis controlled'.bymeansfof the. shift lever69g1... fwhich'fmoves ldriving pinion 68 in land -out of; mesh with :gear O. :The .material delivered to thefpilingoonveyori falls upon apron 57 and.` is moved forwardlyf of the? II'nachine and upwardly -by means of the` severalA /con P v eyor elements y.55. Conveyorelements 55 y dunip` Athe material upon; :the dumping con- .;veyorD: atLthe rearend thereoflrand ,because jofrthe construction said,conveyorcause mgfpial .eqbepiledat therearend dumpingconveyor D. `If considerable material is being collected'the dumping conveyor D may be slowly moved'in lforward direction, the transmissionmechanism T6 being set for low speed driving and in this manner hopper 64 may be' substantially lled `with material be fore the same is dumped. The machine may be driven, when loaded, toa low point or cut 'desired-to be filled; theforward endgate 66 `may-be swung open and the dumping con veyor Dgmay be operated at highor intermediate speed-to distribute material ahead ofthe machine at the rateA of speed and in 'thequantity desired. It will be seen that the distribution of material may take place while the machine isin movement and in thismanner considerable Varea may be covered with lmaterial-withoutthenecessity for a crew of nien levelling and iistiibuting` the same after the material is dumped.` It will also be noticed that where soft 'spotsl exist in .a road bed and it isdesired to till the same, the machine fmay be drivenup .to-the edge of the soft spot and material may be dumpedfrom the forward end.

Y Due to the means provided for driving the dumping conveyor' D inforward and rearward directions, including the clutch mechanism 75 and transmission mechanism 76, the

dumping vconveyor and dumping hopper Ymay be filled to capacity. Thus if a quantity ofV material has been dumped andfsome material is disposed at'the forward vend of the dumping Iconveyor sp'aceda considerable distance `from the delivery endof conveyor C, the` belt 60 of `the dumpingconveyor may bereversed to l bring the remainingmaterial in such relation driving of the tracks T as well as thezopera to conveyor Cthatthe accumulation or collection of material in the dumping hopper will be practically continuous. Y

It will be noticed that the driving of theV machine, including the independent or joint tion of elevating conveyor, piling'c'onveyor and the dumping conveyor may all be controlled from the drivers seat (not shown) disposed tothe rear of the motor. The

device, therefore, can be operated entirely by one man, although it is usually preferable to have an assistant driver or helper to regulate the depth ofthe plow and the dumping of material. Y

Onsmaller machines for lighter work and leven in a larger machine, the piling conveyor may be eliminated and the elevating conveyor may deliver to the rear. of the dumping conveyor. I prefer, however, to use the piling conveyor inasmuch as vthe hopper 64 mayy be Vmo're efficiently loaded yand the flux of material through the machine will-'be steadier. ttention is called to the fact that with my Vdevicethe plow P is mounted for wide vertical adjustment. Thus, it may be disposed considerably below the level of the'tracks to cuta ditch and the conveyor 38 may be ading ofroads, Vinthe saving of labor, equipment and time.. Y It will, of couse, be understood that various changesmay be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts without departing from the scope of applicants invention. lVhatisclaimed is:

1.111 road building machinery, a frame, means for supporting.saidframevfor movement over the ground, a plow carried at one of the longitudinal sides of said frame, and projecting outwardly beyond the frame supporting means, a conveyor adapted to receive `material from said plow, ahopper mounted on the frame at theV side thereof opposite from the plow and a dumping conveyor at the bottomof said hopper, and means for controlling `thedrivingI of said dumping conveyor.-

2. In road buildingmachinery,a frame, a y

pair of tracks forsupporting said frame for 1 movement over the ground, a source of power carried by said frame for driving said tracks,

a plow `carried by Vsaid frame, a conveyor re-` ceiving from said plow,=a dumping conveyor extending longitudinally of said frame, anV

apron disposed behind said dumping conveyor andadaptedto receive material from said first mentioned conveyor, and said apron includingfa door whereby materialmay be "dropped; therethrough without collection thereof.- y r Y A 3. In road building machinerya frame, means `for supporting said frame for movement over the ground, a plow disposed at one of the longitudinal sides of said frame, a dumping-hopper extending longitudinally of said frame, means for `receiving material from said plow and delivering the same' to said dumping hopper,` and Va horizontal dumping conveyor at the bottom of. said hopper, and means'` for controlling the driving of saidconveyor'. Y i

4:. In road building machinery, a frame, means for supporting said .frame for movement over the ground, a plow disposed outwardly of said supportingmeans, means for connecting saidV plow with said frame vwith freedom for positioning saidp'low considerably above the lower edges ofthe supporting `means i vandV considerably below vthe lower 'edges of the supporting means, a hopper extending longitudinally of said frame, means adapted to receive material from said plow and to deliver the same to said hopper, and `1neans orcontrolling the dumping of material from said hopper. 5. In Vroad building machinery, a frame, a' pair of tracks lfor supporting said frame `or movement over the ground, a source of power carried by said frame for driving said tracks, l a plow carried by saidframe, and positioned at one of the longitudinal. sides thereof, a dumping conveyor extending longitudinally of said frame, means receiving from said plow and delivering to said dumping con- Y veyor at a point somevdistance above said Y conveyor, `and driving vConnections between l5 said source of power andsaid dumping conveyor. Y, f

In testimony whereof I aiiiX my signature.

` HANS R. MILLER. 

